Ed Walker, who trains Fast Tracker at his yard in Upper Lambourn, has been in excellent form this season — 80 winners is a serious haul and puts him among the busiest and most successful trainers in Britain right now. So when a horse catches his eye at home, it is worth paying attention. Walker has spoken warmly about Fast Tracker, describing him as a smart individual who he thinks showed rust rather than ability when he ran in France last month — an early outing that should not be held against him. Horses returning from a different training environment often need that first run to shake off the cobwebs, and Walker seems to believe the best of this horse is still to come.
If the trainer's confidence is well-founded, Fast Tracker could be heading somewhere interesting. Walker has mentioned the Gordon Richards Stakes as a possible next target — a top-level race at Sandown that attracts some of the best middle-distance horses in training. That would represent a significant step up in class, but the fact that Walker is even floating the idea tells you he rates this horse highly. Debut watchers and anyone who follows the Upper Lambourn yard closely would do well to keep Fast Tracker on their radar.